Top 14 Indian Cheese Dishes

Originating from India's Moghul cuisine, shahi paneer is a cheese curry that is prepared with paneer cheese, onions, cashews, and a rich, spicy tomato-cream sauce. The dish is typically accompanied by Indian breads such as naan, roti, or puri. Often referred to as the Royal paneer, traditionally, it is prepared during special occasions and festivities as a vegetarian main course. Rich, hearty, and nutritious, shahi paneer is commonly garnished with coriander leaves.Expand

Indian saag paneer is a famous vegetable curry which incorporates diced paneer cheese doused in a creamy mixture of fresh leafy greens, also known under the name saag. It is typically made with mustard, fenugreek, spinach, bathua, or collard greens, mashed and incorporated with tomatoes and a rich spice blend. In India, the saag mixture is believed to have originated in the Punjabi region, and paneer version is just one of many varieties which incorporates this fragrant curry base. It can be enjoyed as a smaller side dish or a nutritious main meal that is usually accompanied by roti or naan.Expand

Paneer makhani is a traditional curry originating from Punjab. The dish has a few versions, but it’s usually made with a combination of paneer cheese and a gravy consisting of ghee, tomatoes, cashews, cream, green chili peppers, garam masala spices, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger, garlic, red chili powder, sugar, salt, turmeric, and fenugreek leaves. The gravy is prepared first, and the paneer is added near the end of cooking. This mild and buttery dish dates back to the 1950s, and nowadays it’s typically served with butter garlic naan, paratha, or jeera rice on the side.Expand

This North Indian tikka variety consists of a combination of marinated paneer cheese and vegetables that are cooked in a tandoor - a traditional Indian oven. This vegetarian version of tikka is based on paneer, a crumbly cheese with a soft texture. Pieces of paneer, tomatoes, onions, and peppers are skewered, grilled, and then seasoned with lemon juice and chaat masala - a spicy powder. Sometimes the dish is served with various salads or mint chutney on the side. Variations on the dish include paneer tikka masala, which is served with spicy gravy, and paneer tikka rolls, which are wrapped in Indian bread. Expand

Kadai paneer is a traditional dish that's cooked in a unique wok called kadai, hence the name. The dish is made by cooking paneer cheese and bell peppers with freshly ground spices called kadai masala. There are two main versions of the dish – wet (with gravy) and semi-dry. The kadai masala spices contain red chili peppers, cardamom, cinnamon, fennel, cloves, and coriander seeds. Other ingredients in the dish include onions, ginger, and tomatoes for the thick gravy. Before serving, it's recommended to let kadai paneer rest in order to absorb flavors. The dish is usually accompanied by rice or paratha on the side.Expand

Palak paneer is a popular Indian vegetarian dish made with paneer cheese in a rich, thick sauce consisting of puréed spinach mixed with tomatoes, garam masala, garlic, and numerous spices. The key ingredients are even mentioned in the name of the dish, since palak means spinach in hindi, and paneer refers to the cheese. Palak paneer has roots in the Punjabi region, but there are also other variations of the dish throughout India. It is a highly nutritious meal that can be consumed either for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, accompanied by rice or Indian flatbreads such as naan and roti.Expand

Mattar paneer is a popular vegetarian dish of North Indian origin, made with peas and paneer cheese in a garam masala-spiced tomato sauce. The rich, thick curry is a specialty of Punjab, but it is widely enjoyed throughout India. Traditionally, the dish is served either for lunch or dinner, accompanied by rice and Indian flatbreads such as naan, kulcha, roti, or paratha. Variations abound, so corn, yogurt, or cream are often added as thickeners. Mattar paneer is commonly garnished with freshly chopped coriander and mint leaves on top, giving it a refreshing flavor.Expand

Chilli paneer is a traditional Indo-Chinese dish that's served as an appetizer. The dish consists of paneer cheese that's cut into cubes, fried, and mixed with a sweet, sour, and spicy sauce. There are three versions of the dish – dry, semi-dry, and restaurant-style (in gravy). The most popular version is the one in which fried paneer is served in gravy. Paneer cubes are battered in a combination of corn flour, ginger paste, garlic paste, red chili powder, salt, and black pepper, then fried. The gravy is usually made with a combination of ginger, garlic, chili peppers, spring onions, soy sauce, red chili powder, and sugar. Before serving, the fried cheese is mixed with the gravy and the dish is then garnished with spring onions, if desired. It's recommended to serve chilli paneer with fried rice or noodles on the side.Expand

Paneer kulcha is a traditional dish that's especially popular in its flaky Amritsari-style version. The dish consists of leavened flatbread called kulcha that's stuffed with paneer cheese. Although there are many variations, the flatbread is usually stuffed with crumbled or grated paneer, chili peppers, coriander leaves, chaat masala, carom seeds, and salt. The dough for the kulcha is made with flour, dahi, ghee, sugar, salt, water, and baking soda and powder. Paneer kulcha is often prepared during winter, and it's traditionally cooked in a tandoor oven. Serve the dish with chole, raita, yogurt, or chutneys on the side.Expand

Kathi roll is a popular Indian street food consisting of flatbreads filled with meat, vegetables, or both. This version of a kathi roll features paneer or Indian cottage cheese. The cheese is cut into cubes and it's then usually marinated in a combination of garam masala, dahi, ginger-garlic powder, red chili powder, and salt. It is then fried until golden brown, and often mixed with onions and green peppers. The combination is placed on a flatbread such as roti or paratha, which is then folded and heated with a bit of oil or ghee. Paneer kathi roll is typically sered with a green chutney on the side.Expand